We’ve seen it for years with the Oilers and Flames, Eskimos and Stampeders.

Now, if Calgary heavyweight Jared Kilkenny has any say in the matter, boxing will get it’s own version of the Battle of Alberta.

The 6-foot-5, 273-pound Kilkenny (4-0-1) climbed off the canvas three times Friday night before knocking out Edmonton’s previously unbeaten Nick Dragich at 1:20 of Round 3 of their featured prelim on KO Boxing’s six-bout Sudden Impact card at Shaw Conference Centre.

Immediately afterwards, Kilkenny was challenged in the ring by local former UFC star Tim Hague, who has a pair of MMA wins over the Calgary fighter.

“I would love to box Tim Hague ... or any other Edmonton heavyweight who wants to step up,” said Kilkenny.

“I especially want to fight Rob Nichols (5-1), because he’s in the (Canadian) top 10 and my goal is to eventually get a crack at the national championship.”

Kilkenny started fast against Dragich, but faded badly late in the opening round and took an eight-count after being dropped at the bell.

He was down again midway through Round 2 and early in Round 3, but somehow managed to stay vertical long enough to reload and drop Dragich with a lightning-quick right hook. Seconds later, with Dragich still trying to clear his head, Kilkenny launched the howitzer straight right that ended it.

Asked what he learned from the knockdowns, Kilkenny didn’t skip a beat: “Pretty simple; I learned not to let that big SOB hit me anymore. I was in a bit of a survival mode, but fortunately I still had something left in the tank.

New Battle of Alberta looms in sweet science

We’ve seen it for years with the Oilers and Flames, Eskimos and Stampeders.

Now, if Calgary heavyweight Jared Kilkenny has any say in the matter, boxing will get it’s own version of the Battle of Alberta.

The 6-foot-5, 273-pound Kilkenny (4-0-1) climbed off the canvas three times Friday night before knocking out Edmonton’s previously unbeaten Nick Dragich at 1:20 of Round 3 of their featured prelim on KO Boxing’s six-bout Sudden Impact card at Shaw Conference Centre.

Immediately afterwards, Kilkenny was challenged in the ring by local former UFC star Tim Hague, who has a pair of MMA wins over the Calgary fighter.

“I would love to box Tim Hague ... or any other Edmonton heavyweight who wants to step up,” said Kilkenny.

“I especially want to fight Rob Nichols (5-1), because he’s in the (Canadian) top 10 and my goal is to eventually get a crack at the national championship.”